Black Panther brings cultural diversity to Hollywood

Black Panther is the newest live-action superhero movie that features a protagonist of African descent. Released on Feb. 16, the movie features a predominantly black cast and crew.

The film focuses on T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) who returns to Wakanda to become king after the recent death of his father in Captain America: Civil War. T’Challa is challenged for the throne by Erik Stevens (Michael B. Jordan), an American with roots in Wakanda that wants the country to break their isolationist policies and fight oppressors around the world.

Director Ryan Coogler traveled to Africa to research the film and understand what it means to be African. Through the trip, Marvel was able to incorporate the culture of the surrounding location in which Wakanda is based. The costume designers used trends and patterns that feature the culture of African tribes throughout the continent.

Black Panther represents African culture and black communities in the United States, with references to lifestyle and slavery. The film won the MTV Movie+TV Award of Movie of the Year, the Saturn Award for Best Comic-to-Film Motion Picture and the Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie: Sci-Fi.